Refusing Iraqi Red Crescent admission to Falluja

Yesterday I posted that the one good piece of news was that the U.S. military had decided to let the Iraqi equivalent of the Red Cross deliver humanitarian supplies to the people of Falluja who are without water, food or medicine. It looks like that might have been a mistaken report. Today, they are appealing to the (useless) UN:

"There is no need to bring [Red Crescent] supplies in because we have supplies of our own for the people," said US marine Colonel Mike Shupp.

"Now that the bridge (into Falluja) is open I will bring out casualties and all aid work can be done here (at Falluja's hospital)," he added.

He said he had not heard of any Iraqi civilians being trapped inside the city and did not think that was the case.

But aid workers say there are still hundreds of families left in the city, which has been pummelled by sustained aerial bombardment and artillery fire in recent days.

"We know of at least 157 families inside Falluja who need our help," said Firdus al-Ubadi of the Iraqi Red Crescent.

[...]

The Iraqi Red Crescent sent seven trucks and ambulances to Falluja on Saturday, hoping to get food, blankets, water purification tablets and medicine to hundreds of families trapped inside the city during the past six days of fighting.

"There is no need to bring [Red Crescent] supplies in because we have supplies of our own for the people," said US marine Colonel Mike Shupp.

"None of the injured residents are being allowed to come to the hospital, while those outside are not allowed to go into the town," Abu Fahd said.

"The town is suffering from cuts in power and water supplies. There are no medicines or ambulances either.

"The injured and the dead are now on the streets. Many families want to get out of their houses, but they have no alternative shelters to go into," he said.

"The US forces have prevented us from entering the town claiming it is not safe. US forces have said they control 80% of the town."

"I have asked them to allow the relief team into the areas they control, to offer humanitarian aid for women, children and the elderly, and transfer the injured to the hospital, but they have refused," Abu Fahd said.

Aljazeera article

Update 3:45pm:ABC is reporting today that the Red Crescent was permitted to go through.

Here's the Reuters report:

An Iraqi Red Crescent aid convoy has entered Falluja with the first humanitarian goods to reach the city since a U.S.-led offensive began five days ago, a Red Crescent spokeswoman says.

"They are in the city," Firdoos al-Abadi said on Saturday.

She said 30 volunteers with five trucks and three ambulances had driven into the city, 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad, after an initial delay at a U.S. checkpoint.